To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 29 July 1781
From Francis Coffyn
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Dunkerque 29 July 1781.
Hond. Sir.
I had the honnor to address your Excellency on the 27. ultmo. and to remit two receipts together £432.—.—.9 paid to sundry american prisonners, to which I beg leave to refer; being since deprived of your Excellencys favours, This cheafly serves to inclose a receipt for £144.—.— I paid to one Mr. Macnamara Lieutenant of the artillery in the Service of the States of Maryland, who made his Escape out of Mill prison and arrived here in distress;1 I hope your Excellency will approve Said payment & credit me with the above mentioned Sum. I have the honnor to remain with great respect Your Excellency’s most obedt & most humble Servant
F. Coffyn
His Excellency Dr. B. Franklin at Passi.
Notation: Coffyn Dunkerque 29. July 1782.
9. The receipts were probably for payments of 144 l.t. each to George Curwen, Solomon Frazier, and John Hackett: Account XXVIII (described in XXXII, 4). See also the Editorial Note on Promissory Notes, above.
1. This is probably the same Mich. Macnemara to whom BF gave 120 l.t. on Aug. 1: Editorial Note on Promissory Notes, above. A Michael McNemmara of Maryland is listed as captain of the marines on the Queen of France, captured in May, 1780, at Charleston, S.C.: Claghorn, Naval Officers, p. 205; Charles H. Lincoln, comp., Naval Records of the American Revolution, 1775–1788 (Washington, D.C., 1906), p. 424.